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Category Archive: Rex Lardner – Managing Editor AFM

Hugh Freeze, the head football coach at the University of Mississippi, is considered by many as this season’s Football Bowl Subdivision Coach of the Year. He led the Rebels to a regular season of 9-3, a top twenty ranking, and an upset win over Alabama in Tuscaloosa. But Coach Freeze has also taken a …

Bill Freeman was a legendary high school football coach. One of the most successful football coaches in Kansas history, Freeman had an overall record of 242-81-3 over a 36-year career. Now 83, Freeman suffers from Alzheimer’s and is living in a nursing home in his home town of Burlington, Kansas. In October, Bill Freeman …

Retired coach Ed McQuary recently published a book reflecting on his 47 years as a coach. In those seasons, he won over 330 games, was Oregon Coach of the Year and won a big school state championship. His proudest accomplishment is when ex-players meet him with a hug and a “Hi, Coach.” This excerpt is …

Frank DiCocco was a frequent contributor to both American Football Monthly and Gridiron Strategies. He primarily wrote about defense, and, more specifically, the 4-2-5 defense. Both a high school and college coach, Frank tragically passed away last spring at 29 after nearly a decade of helping young athletes. Frank graduated from Avon Old Farms …

Trinity High School in Louisville recently finished 14th in USA’s Final Top 25 Prep Poll. They had a 13-1 record and were crowned 6A State Champions. Trinity has now won 22 State Championships and amassed eight undefeated seasons. It is one of the most storied programs in the state. The Shamrocks Head coach – …

Chuck Kyle was a running back on the undefeated St. Ignatius High School team (Cleveland) in 1968. He then played briefly at John Carroll University before an injury shortened his career. After earning his undergraduate degree, Kyle returned to St. Ignatius as both an English teacher and assistant football coach in 1973. The rest is …

Model and actress Brooklyn Decker is listed as one of the outstanding graduates of Butler High School in Matthews, NC. What’s also getting recognition recently is the performance of the football team – Butler is currently ranked #6 in the nation in the weekly USA Today Prep Poll with an 11-0 record. After the …

The Hoover football team has been nationally ranked a number of times and has won six state championships since 2000 including four in a row – 2002-2005 – under the direction of near legendary and controversial head coach Rush Probst. The 2005 and 2006 teams were featured on the MTV show ‘Two-A-Days.’ Probst was dismissed …

Head coach Joe McBride’s Coppell High School Cowboys are currently the number two ranked team in the state of Texas. But two weeks ago, McBride, his staff, the players and the entire community of Coppell had to deal with a tragedy – 17 year old senior defensive back and wide receiver Jacob Logan died in …

Currently ranked as the top rated prep team in Texas, DeSoto High School is undefeated with quality wins against both Trinity High School in Euless and Jenks in Tulsa. The head coach at DeSoto for the past five years, Claude Mathis has an overall record of 38-15 going into this season. Last year’s team finished …